Crutch.



S. H. NORTON.

CRUTOH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12 1913.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914.

INVENTO MVKM wk/awq FIGA- COLUMBIA PLANODRAIH 7., WASHINGTON, D. c.

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SAIVIUEL H. NORTON, OF IVIEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CRUTCH.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. NORTON, a resident of Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Crutches, of which the following is a spec1- fication.

This invention relates to crutches, and particularly to an electric light attachment therefor.

The object of the invention is to provide an electric light attachment which may be applied to any form of crutch, which is simple, inexpensive, easily operated, which is so arranged that the user of the crutch can readily turn the light on or off without removing his hand from the crutch, and wherein the several parts may be applied to the crutch without disfiguring the same and in a manner not to interfere with its use.

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter de scribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a crutch embodying the inventlon; F 1g. 2 1s a detail sectional elevation on the line 22, Fig. 1, and showing the battery case; Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the lamp; and Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the lower portion of the battery case.

The invention may be applied to any of the usual or preferred forms of crutch, one embodiment thereof being illustrated in the drawings. As shown, the crutch comprises two side members or legs 1, the lower ends of which are not shown, but which preferably join and are equipped with the usual ferrule or tip in the ordinary manner. The side members are spaced apart and are sultably braced, such as by one or more cross members or bars 2, that shown forming the handle which the user grasps with his hand in use of the crutch. The upper ends of the two side members are provided with a cross head or bridge 3, which is preferably formed of a wooden or metallic base 4 having a cushion orpad 5 of any suitable construction secured to the upper portion thereof. The base or body 1 of the head may be of any shape or configuration, and is shown as having end portions 6 which inc-line upwardly and outwardly toward the ends of the head.

The crutch is provided with suitable means for supporting one or more batteries,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 12, 1913.

Patented Mar. 24L, 1914. Serial No. 778,637.

which form the source of current for the electric light. In the form shown this support comprises a case or holder 7, preferably formed of some strong flexible material, such as canvas, leather or the like, but preferably leather, and having opposite side walls secured at their upper edges, as at 8, to the sides of the body 4. One of the walls of the case or holder is longer than the other and is provided with a bottom or stilfening member 9 of wood or the like, which supports the batteries when in place. The longer wall also has an extension 10 which laps up over the short wall of the case. Suitable fastening means, such as buttons or clasps 11, are provided for securing the two walls of the case together and thereby locking the batteries in place.

\Vithin the case or holder 7 are placed one or more batteries 12, three being shown. These batteries may be of any standard or suitable type, but preferably are dry batteries. They are each provided with the usual pair of contacts, one being an end contact 13 and another, 1 1, being formed by the side wall of the battery itself. The crutch head and battery case are also provided with spring contacts so arranged that a circuit is automatically completed through the batteries by merely pushing them into place in the battery case or on the crutch head, according as the batteries are intended to be in horizontal or vertical position. As shown, the crutch head is provided with two intermediate spring contact members 15 so located that one end of each contacts with the side wall contact 14 of one battery and the other end with the end contact 13 of the next. It is also provided with a special end contact 15 which contacts with the end contact 13 of one end battery. A similar contact 15 is located near the other end battery and in position to contact one end of a special spring contact 15 riveted or otherwise secured to the battery case and lying in such position that its other end contacts with the side wall contact 14 of the other end battery. The battery case is made of flexible material, so that it can swing from side to side of the crutch during use of the same and will therefore yield and not interfere with the arms of the user of the crutch. The arrangement of spring contacts described enables the battery case to swing without breaking or opening the circuit through the batteries, as the contacts will yield or follow one another as the case moves from side to side.

One end portion 6 of the head 1 is cut away, as at 16, to form a seat to receive the electric light. The latter is shown in detail in Fig. 8, and comprises a socket 17, the in ner end of which forms a reflector for the light, and which is provided with a screwthreaded base 18 into which the light bulb 19 is screwed. Socket 17 has an annular lip or flange 20 which rests upon a contact plate 21 to which one of the circuit wires is connected. Said plate is held in place by a cover plate 22, screwed to the head, and having an opening through which projects a lens or bulls eye 23, said lens being held in place by the cover plate. The socket 17 forms one of the contacts for making electrical connection through the lamp 19. The other contact is in the form of a spring plate 24 with one end of which contacts the end of the electric light bulb. The other wire of the circuit is connected to the contact plate 2 1 and the latter is insulated from the socket l7 and cover plate 22. One of the circuit wires or leads, such as the wire 25, leads to the contact 15 The other wire 25 runs downwardly along one of the legs 1 to a contact member 26 of a switch or circuit breaker 27, the movable blade or knife 28 of which is pivotally mounted upon the inner face of the side member 1 of the crutch, and which is adapted to occupy either of two positions, in one of which the circuit is closed through said switch and in the other of which the circuit is open. Lead wire 25 extends from the switch 27 downwardly to the handle 2 where it is connected to a contact member 29, formed of spring metal, and one end of which is adapted to make or break contact with a second contact member 30. A third lead wire 25 extends from the contact member 30 upwardly along the other leg of the crutch to the special contact member 15, thus completing the circuit.

All of the wires are buried in grooves or channels 31 in the crutch legs and handle, so they will be protected and will not dis figure the crutch. The switch 29, 30 is located on the under side of the handle 2 and member 29 is normally out of contact with member 30. By pressing thereupon with one of the fingers the switch can, however, be closed and connections completed from the batteries through the light.

Switch 27 is provided in order that the circuit may be positively and permanently broken during the daytime, or whenever the light is not required for a considerable period of time. This prevents the circuit from being inadvertently closed by pressing upon the switch 29, 30, and thereby unnecessarily wasting battery current.

V The electric light is located in one of the inclined end portions 6 of the crutch head.

to complete the circuit therefrom the batteries-through the lamp. and V light the same. The lamp will remain lighted as long as the switch 29, 30 is closed, and will be turned off as soon as the pressure is relieved from the contact member 29.

The battery case 7 is formed of flexible material and is secured only atits upper end to the crutch head. It consequently is free to swing sidewise with movement of the crutch and will yield when contacted by the arm and not interfere with use of the crutch. The spring contact members are so arranged that by merely inserting the batteries into the case and pressing them upwardly, all

connections are made through the batteries.

The battery case is of simple construction and may be readily opened in order to inspect or renew the batteries.

The entire arrangement is very simple and can easily be applied at low cost to any of the standard or other forms of crutch. Itis inexpensive and provides simple means which is always available for illuminating the path of the user of the crutch.

"What I claim is 1. The combination of a crutch having side members and a connecting head, said head having an end portion inclined to the may be turned on or off while the crutch is being used as a support in walking.

2. In a construction of the character described, the combination of a crutch comprising side members and a head connecting the same, a'fiexible support carried by said head and lying between said side members, a battery carrled by said support, said head being provided with an electric lamp arranged to throw a beam of light forwardly and downwardly, and connections between said battery and lamp.

3. The combination of a crutch comprising side members, a head and a handle connecting the same, a battery carried by said crutch and lying between said side members, an electric lamp also carried by-said crutch,

ise

circuit connections between said battery and lamp, and two switches in said connections, one of said switches being located on said handle and being normally open and arranged to be closed manually, and the other of said switches having open and closed positions.

i. In a construction of the character described, the combination of a crutch having side members and a head connecting the same, a battery case formed of flexible material and secured to said crutch between said side members and adapted to swing therebetween, a battery carried by said case, a lamp carried by said crutch, and electrical connections between said battery and lamp.

5. In a construction of the character de scribed, the combination of a crutch having side members and a rigid head connecting the same, a battery case formed of flexible material and secured to said crutch and adapted to swing between said side members, a battery carried by said case, a lamp carried by said crutch, and electrical connections between said battery and lamp and embodying spring contact members carried by said crutch and battery and adapted to follow each other as the battery case swings.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

SAMUEL H. NORTON. Witnesses:

T. F. CHARLTON, F. T. Sco'rr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

